Features

To determine which printer features you'll need, consider how you'll be using your printer and what you need to print. If you're printing photos, you'll need a memory card reader, PictBridge compatibility, or some other form of connectivity. And if you're planning to network your printer to a number of computers, look for that capability too.

USB port

The way a printer connects to a computer depends on what kind of connectivity it has. All printers have a USB port that lets them connect to Windows or Mac computers.

Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or infrared wireless

Many printers have optional Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or infrared wireless connectivity. A printer with PictBridge can connect directly to a camera, and some models can print and download photos right from your camera's memory card.

Memory-card reader

This feature lets you print image files from a digital camera's memory card without using a computer. You can also transfer the files to a computer.

LCD viewer

Many printers incorporate a built-in LCD screen for viewing and editing images from a memory card. The screen is small, usually only 1 to 3.5 inches, and editing capability is very limited.

Resolution

Printers differ in the detail they can produce. Resolution, expressed in dots per inch (dpi), is often touted as the main measure of print quality. But other factors, such as the number of inks and the way dot patterns are formed on the paper, are also important.

At their default settings--where they're usually expected to run--inkjets currently on the market typically have a resolution of 600x600 dpi. You can increase the dpi for color photos. Some printers go up to 5760x1440 dpi. Laser printers for home use typically offer 600 or 1200 dpi.

Printing color inkjet photos on photo paper at a higher dpi setting can produce smoother shading of colors but can slow printing significantly.

Ink monitor

Most inkjet printers have an ink monitor to warn when you're running low, but accuracy varies.

Networking

Networking lets you print from any computer in either a wired or wireless home network.

Double-sided printing

For double-sided printing, you can print the odd-numbered pages of a document first, and then flip those pages over to print the even-numbered pages on a second pass. A few printers make this process easier by incorporating built-in duplexers for automatically printing on both sides.

Recycled parts

Companies are finding new uses for recycled plastics. HP, for example, has designed the print head on one of its photo printers using 55 percent recycled polyethylene terephthalate (RPET) plastic derived from ink cartridges collected through its HP Planet Partners recycling program. You can also buy printer cartridges that have been recycled, refilled or rebuilt.

For more information , read our glossary of printer terms.

See also:

Computers

Monitors

Digital cameras

Wireless routers